TEACHERS: RELIGIOUS AND LAY

SIR,—Thank God for the letter by E. J. K. All in private convent schools will feel heartened that one lay apostle is willing to uphold the Holy Father's words which he quotes. The way religion is taught by people not living in the world outside the Convent is only fit for two centuries ago. The modern child learns all her other subjects brightly, intelligently, but the real, vital subject is still fitted in an odd half hour in the old fashioned way: and lacks weight because the child of 13-16 feels the person teaching it cannot come to her level and understand her difficulties. when she has lived in a convent 30-40 years—which seems eternity to the child mind.
Lay teachers would willingly co-operate with teaching—Youth Movements, Sword of the Spirit. etc. • -if they were given the chance. Consequently the last ten years have been heartbreaking ones from the lay teachers' point of view, and now see the results—mixed marriages and mothers who realise what they were not taught, between 13-17. which could be effectively taught by lay teachers only, thereby making our Catholic girls proud to aim at being one of the great band of Catholic mothers in this country and ready to face what the world has in store with the real sword of the Faith alive and shining.
A CONVENT SCHOOL TfAcHER.
School Headships
SIR,—If I were a parent, I should certainly want priests and nuns to take a prominent part in the education of my children. I think that all other things being equal, the religious should have the headships of our schools.
Further, as regards the staffing of elementary schools, I see no reason Why a priest should not select. a certain candidate for a particular post, provided that he is satisfied that this candidate is the person best fitted For it (not, of course, for the sole reason that one of his relations is a benefactor to the parish).
My grievance is that posts are advertised in the Catholic and secular press when the appointment has virtually been made. The application forms, letters, and testimonials of the poor, deluded people who apply receive no consideration whatever. I sometimes wonder if they are even read.
Teachers in Convent Secondary Schools arc not always sure of just treatment. A secular teacher may be dismissed after sevepr lacal ey.ears' service, merely because a newlyqualified nun is waiting to step into her
I know of one case where a teacher so dismissed appealed to the Bishop of the diocese. His reply was that as the law stands, he could do nothing.
Rase:teen.